Daily Inspiration: Meet Willow (will) Covey

Today we’d like to introduce you to Willow (will) Covey

Hi Willow (Will), please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
Artistic outlets have always been at the forefront of my life since childhood. Being born and raised in Austin, Texas, and being surrounded by so many different types of people kept my eyes open to the world around me. My grandmommy, Joy Fisher Hein, is a Texas illustrator and sculptor, so she guided my dad, then sequentially, my younger sibling and me into practical art at a very young age. Playing with paints, clay, and fiber arts in our free time was essential to keeping our hands busy and our brains creative.
My chosen outlet all throughout my childhood was being on stage. I started with dance, then grew to singing and theatre. I trained vocally and dance was my life three times a week. My parents were super supportive and wanted to help in any way they could. My mom would volunteer with the other moms, but my dad decided to utilize his artistic upbringing. As the shows I was performing in got more advanced, my dad was there to up the looks; He started doing airbrush and special fx makeup for just about every show I was in. In my seventh grade year, I had an ankle injury and a broken foot in succession of one another, so I took a step back from the stage and went to behind it. I picked up an airbrush and helped my dad with whatever he needed me to do.
Around the same time, I started watching Face Off with my dad on SyFy. The transformations and creatures being made right in front of me were so fascinating that I fell in love with the process. Everything seemed to line up, like I was meant to go behind the stage and help create the magic rather than be the face of it. Severe anxiety developed shortly afterward if I tried to perform, and that was my sign to hit the ground running.
After taking the reigns from my dad in the makeup department in theatre, I started designing looks on myself for fun and others for the shows. The summer before my freshman year in high school, I was the makeup department head for the district-wide musical of The Little Mermaid.
I didn’t know if I wanted to go to a traditional college but I knew I was going to Cinema Makeup School as my continued education. I was lucky enough to go into an early college high school where I took advantage of the cosmetology program to ensure I had a plan to fall back on. Learning the technical, anatomical, and artistic essentials through cosmetology has been one of my greatest strengths later on in my career.
Once I graduated from high school and became a certified cosmetologist, Covid was at its peak. I took a break from art and started saving money while bartending to come out to California.
In August of 2021, I packed up my whole life and drove out to Los Angeles, where I’d stay for years to come. I spent 8 months attending Cinema Makeup School to finish the Complete Track, and it was some of the most intense yet rewarding parts of my education. I already had many of the skills taught for application, but having the space and time to experiment and learn why certain things work together made me a huge step up from where I was.
After graduating from Cinema, I was brought on by my past instructor, Liz Rhodes, to assist her on a handful of commercial shoots and picked up freelance projects where I could. I would also go back to model for current students at Cinema when the school would reach out. When I wasn’t on and off sets, I was working in a restaurant and trying to fulfill my creativity gremlin for another year until the sets and work became more consistent.
Now, I’ve worked on various music videos, photoshoots, mobisodes, e-commerce, and short films. I have yet to work on a feature film or television show, but I believe it’s in the cards! Working on passion projects with my partner in our free time and keeping my hands busy is still how I keep my head on straight. I love creature design and making someone into something completely different from themselves, whether it’s a design off of the model or helping an actor get into character. Seeing the look on someone’s face when they look at themselves in the mirror is what I live for.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
I was lucky to be heavily supported by my parents. I got my first train case and airbrush compressor for Christmas when I was 12 years old, but that doesn’t mean the ideas just flew out of my brain. I struggled, and still do, with creative block. Inspiration is all around me, but my motivation to create something new is overwhelmed with dark thoughts, anxieties and overthinking. My mental health has always been my greatest challenge to push past, but I’m learning to use my overthinking as an asset and use my darker times as inspiration to push my art’s boundaries. Some of my best art comes out when I’m upset, or through deep examination of my emotions. Though it can be difficult, I think it’s also a strength to be able to dwell on those subjects and still be standing to create another day.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I love making a vision come to life, whether it’s my own or someone else’s. I grew up doing theatrical makeup to create a more intense effect to be seen from far away then as I grew older, doing makeup that had to look good in person and throughout the day on my face. Then, focusing on hair and its world of technicalities. Finally, making people look good consistently for the camera. All aspects have a certain result you’re looking to achieve, and the goal is to be able to execute it, usually pretty quickly. Being flexible with your vision while keeping your artistic integrity when working with other creatives is essential for anyone to make it in the industry. Keeping a firm stance on your ground while having empathy and understanding for the others around you.
I like to think of myself as well-rounded in most aspects but special fx, beauty, prosthetic application, painting, sculpting, molding, and hair work are what I do most often. I could talk about my specific techniques and tricks of the trade, but in reality, this industry revolves around people. You can be the most talented person in the room, but if you’re not a kind person, you’ll be standing alone. Making sure the people in my chair are safe, comfortable, and taken care of is my top priority. Having a clean and organized kit that caters to each person who comes and sits with me is so important for completing my work to the standard I uphold. I don’t settle for less than sanitary.

Can you tell us more about what you were like growing up?
I grew up as a triple threat: acting, dancing, singing. I was a Girl Scout for a couple of years, in a softball league for 2 seasons, and was on pointe in ballet for 3 years. I loved the stage, but when my anxiety developed, makeup became my passion from 12 years old until current day.
I was always told I seemed older than I was all growing up; maturity, integrity, and respect were values I learned very early on. I seemed to only make friends with kids older than me or hang out with the adults rather than sitting at the kids’ table. I learned to observe the world around me way more intently than those around me. Pay attention to the overlooked details, help without being told to, and stay aware of your surroundings.
The golden rule still stands, treat others the way you want to be treated.

Pricing:

• Beauty Do n Go – $250+
• SFX Do n Go – $350+
• Day rates differ per project
• Depotting Services upon inquiry

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.willowcovey.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/willcoveymua/profilecard/?igsh=NTc4MTIwNjQ2YQ==
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/willowcoveymua

Image Credits
Myself (Willow Covey)
Jackie Parra
Jeremy Verone